According to the British news agency “Reuters”, demonstrators also set fire to a vehicle in the US President’s motorcade Tens of thousands of protesters in the Greek capital set fire to 10 banks, cars, shops and offices in protest against the American President’s visit to Greece page 2

A Greek police officer putting out the flames in front of the American embassy in Athens

The directors of the Kakavije and Qafë Thanë Customs offices are also dismissed A minor upheaval in Albania’s corrupt customs service - page 15 -

Greek anti-Americanism, which openly emerged after the initiative by the United States and its European allies to punish Millosheviç, appears to be something permanent that has little to do with the Serbs and Serbia. Since then, in the most absurd way, the majority of Greek public opinion, encouraged also by certain political circles, has fanned anti-American hysteria. Thus, while people say that the Americans were unsafe in Albania, attacks on various US facilities have taken place in Greece. As a result of this atmosphere, the announced visit of the President of the country that determines the fate of the world has become the cause of banal protests, which have forced the Athens government to take extraordinary security measures. But yesterday, when the “Air Force One” plane touched down on the runway at Athens airport, instead of the anti-American sentiment subsiding, it can be said to have reached its peak. American President Clinton, although he declared, “I am a friend of Greece,” failed to calm the agitated Greek spirits, and it is unclear what they want. If we can speak today of a certain degree of development in Greece, it is understood simply as the result of America’s contribution to Europe’s development. Perhaps the representatives of the Greek lobby in the United States know this reality better than anyone; they have done no little for their country by knocking on the doors of American government institutions. But, setting aside the effects on Athens’ relations with Washington, its relations with the West, or with the countries of the region, Greek anti-Americanism should also draw the attention of Albanian politicians. The reality described above calls for a necessary review of Albania’s foreign-policy orientation. It would be wrong to expect Tirana to “divorce” Athens or to take the place it has held for a long time in American policy, but this does mean changing the balance of relations with neighbouring countries. Given that Italy is a member of the “Group of Seven” and considering the role of the Turkish factor from Central Asia to the Balkans, there is no reason to hesitate to give priority to strengthening ties with Montenegro and Ankara. Naturally, this should be done without neglecting Bulgaria and Macedonia, countries included in the horizontal axis, whose importance will grow considerably with the construction of Corridor Eight and the expansion of Caspian oil pipelines to the Albanian coast. And, speaking in terms of the future, no one need fear accusations of “clientelism” in this case. In any event, the strategic ally of Albania will remain the USA for many years to come; therefore, as Prime Minister Meta also stated, foreign policy should change in favour of the Rome–Washington axis. Although Clinton was given a cold reception in Athens, in Tirana he would be welcomed with flowers, if he came.